Man charged with attempted murder in 2008 raid was member of GD central committee, report claims

A suspect charged with attempted murder after a raid at an anarchist hangout in Athens in June 2008 was a member of Golden Dawn's central committee at the time of the attack, according to reports.

A Greek and a Spanish national were stabbed by alleged members of the neo-Nazi party during a raid at the Antipnoia venue in the central Athens neighborhood of Kato Petralona.

After police arrested Vassilis Siatounis and Athanasios Stratos in connection with the assault, Golden Dawn denied any links with the two suspects.

However, according to a list of the party's central committee members from 2008 that has been published by the Efimerida ton Syntakton newspaper, Siatounis – who ran with GD in the previous local elections for the City of Athens – was at the time of the attack a member of Golden Dawn's higher council.

The defendants refused to appear in the courtroom in March allegedly fearing the reaction of those who had gathered to follow the trial’s proceedings. Following a motion by the defendants’ legal teams a new trial has been set for September 19.

The trial of more than 60 people, including 16 Golden Dawn MPs, accused of being part of a criminal organization is due to begin later this year.